whisper

03/2013

There was this girl

whose shattered heart extended

from the slits in her wrist

to the bullet hole in her head

No piano notes could ever 

touch the depths of her sadness

No amount of makeup could

cover up her disease 

The issues that had been

swept under the rug eventually

choked her to death from the inside

With no where to turn

she turned to the blade

With no one left to hold

she held the gun

The walls she had built to hid behind

fell with the first cut

The lies she had been forced to believe in

disintegrated in front of the 45 caliber bullet

that tore through her brain

Her lifeless body fell into the thoughts and prayers

of well wishers everywhere, only to be forgotten

after a short parade through empty streets

Me, I will never forget her

sometimes I swear

I can still hear her whisper my name

Author's Note

The Bridge of Sighs

One more Unfortunate,
Weary of breath,
Rashly importunate,
Gone to her death!

Take her up tenderly,
Lift her with care;
Fashion'd so slenderly
Young, and so fair!

Look at her garments
Clinging like cerements;
Whilst the wave constantly
Drips from her clothing;
Take her up instantly,
Loving, not loathing.

Touch her not scornfully;
Think of her mournfully,
Gently and humanly;
Not of the stains of her,
All that remains of her
Now is pure womanly.

Make no deep scrutiny
Into her mutiny
Rash and undutiful:
Past all dishonour,
Death has left on her
Only the beautiful.

Still, for all slips of hers,
One of Eve's family—
Wipe those poor lips of hers
Oozing so clammily.

Loop up her tresses
Escaped from the comb,
Her fair auburn tresses;
Whilst wonderment guesses
Where was her home?

Who was her father?
Who was her mother?
Had she a sister?
Had she a brother?
Or was there a dearer one
Still, and a nearer one
Yet, than all other?

Alas! for the rarity
Of Christian charity
Under the sun!
O, it was pitiful!
Near a whole city full,
Home she had none.

Sisterly, brotherly,
Fatherly, motherly
Feelings had changed:
Love, by harsh evidence,
Thrown from its eminence;
Even God's providence
Seeming estranged.

Where the lamps quiver
So far in the river,
With many a light
From window and casement,
From garret to basement,
She stood, with amazement,
Houseless by night.

The bleak wind of March
Made her tremble and shiver;
But not the dark arch,
Or the black flowing river:
Mad from life's history,
Glad to death's mystery,
Swift to be hurl'd—
Anywhere, anywhere
Out of the world!

In she plunged boldly—
No matter how coldly
The rough river ran—
Over the brink of it,
Picture it—think of it,
Dissolute Man!
Lave in it, drink of it,
Then, if you can!

Take her up tenderly,
Lift her with care;
Fashion'd so slenderly,
Young, and so fair!

Ere her limbs frigidly
Stiffen too rigidly,
Decently, kindly,
Smooth and compose them;
And her eyes, close them,
Staring so blindly!

Dreadfully staring
Thro' muddy impurity,
As when with the daring
Last look of despairing
Fix'd on futurity.

Perishing gloomily,
Spurr'd by contumely,
Cold inhumanity,
Burning insanity,
Into her rest.—
Cross her hands humbly
As if praying dumbly,
Over her breast!

Owning her weakness,
Her evil behaviour,
And leaving, with meekness,
Her sins to her Saviour!

Thomas Hood

Reviews

[Miss Marie Riorden.]

Oh, this is hauntingly beautiful. And I'm sure more than one person could relate with this. I know I can, in my own way. Taunting with death because of society's inability to accept people for who they are. And then when you lose someone so harshly, so quickly, due to judgements made by people who are ignorant, is painful.
This is amazing work. Thanks for RR'ing it to me.

[Baby Ricochet]

This is frighteningly golden. Excellent work

[Mary C]

very well composed...my kind of poem BRAVO!!!

[R.A. Youngblood]

I can relate to this totally. My best friend died, and my life is senseless without him, I mean, it's weird to live without someone you really loved. I was going through that bullshit too, cutting myself and so on. Life is a cruel b***h. Rhymes and the flow is brilliant. And yeah, I'm sorry for your loss, I know how you feel. Whenever you're feeling down, you can send me a message, I'll try to help, so you have me. Thanks for sharing your wonderful work. :D

[Angie Diane♥&hea..]

I read this a while ago, but I never did get around to reviewing it. It is hard to lose someone from suicide. I know the feeling of losing someone from it. So has many other people. Reading this back then hurt my soul a bit. Just thinking back of the times I went through this I know how you felt. It was a heartfelt piece...it truly is...you well as always this is an excellent write as always...
PS. I can relate to the girl...I used to cut myself....

[Misty Blue Eyes]

WOW this is intense and i loved it very much

[Omar Fendri]

I am sorry for your loss.
They say suicide is never the solution... yet, we have an Arabic saying that says : no one feels the scorch of an ember as the one holding it. Life is, with no doubt, difficult and sometimes there is just too much to bear.
The poem is full of emotions and undeniably heartfelt.

[Alex Vidmar]

I truly know how you feel, having lost one I loved to suicide many years ago. Your ability to put your loss down in words is both heartbreaking and haunting. You did an amazing job writing this, Joshua.

[Lydia Shutter]

She obviously meant a lot to you. The excruciating torment of depression is expressed so well in your poem. The intensity of the sadness is overwhelming! Excellent work. Lydi**

[joshua deathdealer]

Thank you Lydi. Writing has always been an artistic release for me. Thank you for stopping by.

[Muse]

Your spin on Thomas Hood's inspiration was genius. I too sometimes feel like that girl. Desperate to get out of my own skin. But family keeps me grounded and with hope.

"No piano notes could ever

touch the depths of her sadness"

Exquisite work...I loved the haunting photo as much as I loved your words.